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Calls for Thai Govt to investigate alleged navy shooting

SALLY SARA: Human Rights Watch is calling on the Thai government to immediately investigate allegations that the Thai Navy shot at Rohingya refugees arriving from western Burma, killing two people.

Last week PM aired the allegations from Rohingya refugees who survived the incident and Thai villagers who pulled out two bodies out of the water.

Thai authorities have told the ABC that there was no such incident. But, Human Rights Watch researchers have received evidence of the same allegations from eyewitnesses. They say the navy's explanation of events is incorrect and reflects a desire to cover up what really happened.

Southeast Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel reports.

ZOE DANIEL: The boat carrying about 130 Rohingya people fleeing conflict in western Burma ran out of fuel and was towed in to the shores of Surin Island near Phuket by local fishermen on February 22nd. Local villagers gave the refugees food and water and then called the authorities to help them.

A navy patrol boat and officers from the Internal Security Operations Command arrived and towed the refugees away again, eventually arriving at a pier North of Phuket and dividing the refugees into smaller groups and to move them onto smaller boats.

Fearing they'd be pushed back out to sea under Thailand's push-back policy to refugees from Thai territory and to help them on, some jumped into the water. Survivors alleged last week that shots were fired.

(Survivor speaking)

‘When the boat was being towed out, we were afraid we would be pushed out to sea so 10-15 people jumped off and then they opened fire,’ he says

Villagers say there were more than two bodies in the water, but they were unable to retrieve them. It remains a possibility that those who died drowned, but it seems clear that shots were at least fired as the refugees attempted to flee.

Human Rights Watch is now calling for a full Thai government investigation. Spokesman Phil Robertson.

PHIL ROBERTSON: Well the Thai authorities need to immediately investigate this situation, look into these reports and if they find that these reports are true, which we believe they are, they should hold criminally accountable those who fired on the Rohingya.

ZOE DANIEL: Approached by the ABC for comment last week a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command said ‘the allegation is not true. There was no such incident’.

And today, National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr has told us, ‘I confirm that this is not true. Our policy is to provide convenience to them like giving them food, water and petrol so that they can continue on to travel to the country they want to.’

Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch.

PHIL ROBERTSON: We believe that the Thai officials' account of event is inaccurate. In fact, it sadly shows a proclivity to cover up for misbehaviour by officials, rather than being open to an investigation. And now it really falls to prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to press forward with this.

ZOE DANIEL: Questioned by the ABC about the incident, as well as allegations that the Thai Navy is involved in selling refugees to human traffickers, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government is attempting to take a humanitarian approach, particularly in the treatment of women and children. She indicated that she would investigate the latest allegations.

YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA: In the case of the navies I think we will work on a fair basis and will be fair to everyone under the legal process.

ZOE DANIEL: Talking though about the Thai Navy shooting and killing refugees, could I ask you will you order an investigation into that incident?

YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA: Ok, first of all I have to say that we don't encourage any violence, to do any harm to anyone. This is our policy and of course that we will have to fair to everyone and we will look and investigate the case.

ZOE DANIEL: But previous investigations of mistreatment of Rohingya by the Thai authorities have yielded little. Repeated allegations that the Thai military is involved in trafficking refugees have been rejected, most recently by the Department of Special Investigation which dismissed the claims after an investigation lasting one day.

The four Rohingya men who made the original claims to the ABC have fled to Malaysia out of concern for their safety.